Liquid dispenser



Jan. 19, 1954 D. HE/STER LIQUID DISPENSER Fried April 1, 1948 2Sheets-Sheet 1 lnti ia. IE1

Jan. 19, 1954 D, HESTER 2,666,557

LIQUID DISPENSER Filed April 1, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 19,1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 2,666,557 g g Li m DISPENSER v DwightHester, Chicago, Ill. 2 Application April 1, 1948, Serial No. 18,370

3 Claims. (01. 222-479) My invention relates to an improved liquiddispensing device, particularly of the type adapted to be mounted on aliquor bottle for pouring the contents thereof into the commonlyemployed measuring glasses such as shot glasses, wine glasses, and thelike. 7

One object of my invention, therefore, is to provide a liquid dispensingdevice which will fill a container to any desired level withoutcarefully calculated pouring.

Another object is to provide a liquid dispensing device for bartendinuse which will fill a measuring glass without danger of loss of liquorthrough overpouring.

Yet another object is to provide a pouring spout for a liquor bottlewhich, mounted on the bottle, may be rested on a glass with minimumdanger of upsetting it for hasty pouring' Still another object of myinvention is to pro vide a pouring spout for a liquor bottle which willdispense liquor into a glass to fill. it toany desired level and whichthereupon may be transferred to another glass to dispense liquorthereinto without loss or spilling of liquor.

Yet another object is to provide a liquid dispenser for a liquor bottlewhich is particularly suited for filling rapidly and accuratelya largenumber of glasses to a predetermined level.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from thefollowing description and drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the device embodying my invention shownmounted in a bottle in pouring position;

Fig. 2 is a central sectional view of the device illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the outer face of the device shown inFig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a central sectional view similar to Fig. 2 showing, however,the extension tubes in extended position;

arrows Fig. 8 is a perspective view of still another modification of myinvention; and

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the modification illustrated in Fig. 8which may be considered as being'taken substantially along the line 99of Fig. 8, looking in the direction of the arrows.

The device embodying my invention comprises an obtuse-angled,flat-sided, elongated body 20 preferably formed of a plastic materialand having a circular section at one end 22 thereof slightly smaller indiameter than the mouth of a conventional liquor bottle. Above thiscircular section a shoulder 24 is formed, and a cork 26 of a size to fitthe mouth 28 of a liquor bottle 30 and drilled to seat snugly on thecircular portion of the body, is fitted thereon to abut against theshoulder. Passages 32 and 34 are formed in the body by moldin cores ordrilling to extend centrally through the body from the face of thecork-fitted or inner end to the face 35 of the outer or pouring end 38,following the angle of the body. Passage 32, having the larger diameterand lying adjacent the underside of the dispenser, constitutes theliquid passage, and passage 34, the air passage. A tube 49, having adiameter of near capillary size, is press-fitted in theinner end ofpassage 34 to extend the air passage well into the neck of the bottle.

The passages 32 and 34 are enlarged as at 42 and 44 in the outer end ofthe body and are countersunk as at 46 and 48 at the outer face thereof.Tube sections 50 and 52, whose interior walls are coextensive with orslightly larger than the passages of which they respectively form anextension, are slidably fitted in the enlarged portions 42 and 44. Thesesections have flaring flanges 54 formed on their outer ends. Theenlarged portions 42 and 4 4 terminate in shoulders 56 and 58 to limitthe insertion of the tube sections to a point not farther than flushwith the outer face 36. A space is thus left between the countersinkingof the passages at 45 and 48 and the flanges 54 of the tubes 50 and 52to permit grasping of the tubes with the fingernails to draw them out toan extended position.

The outer end 38 of the body is furnished with legs 62 which projectoutwardly therefrom in a plane parallel to the plane of the outer face36 and spaced as closely as possible thereto consonant with the firmsupport of the legs. The length of the legs is such that they willconveniently bridge the rims of the conventionally used bar glasses.Three means are suggested for providing the body with these legs. In thefirst (Figs. 1-5) a metallic band is formed to have an outside contourconforming to the side wall contour of the body. Holes are formed in theband at opposite points in the ends (Figs. 1-4.) or sides (Fig. 5) tofit the legs closely. The legs are metallic pins having therefrom withthe heads 64 abutting against the inner surface of the band, the holesbeing too small to pass the heads. The body may then be molded directlyinto the band to hold the legs rigidly in place.

A second means is illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 in which the legs 62 aremetallic headed members as before. In this form the body is molded aboutthe head ends of the legs to embed them therein. Ihis structure,(if-course, demands that the body have somewhat thicker walls.

The third means shown in Figs. 6 and '7 involves forming the legs 62 inthe same process and of the same material as the body. In this form asupporting web 68 may be provided linking the under sides of the legs tothe body'to give the legs additional rigidity and strength.

Similarly, a variety of leg arrangements on the body are possibledepending on the .taste of the fabricator. Thus, the arrangements aresuggested of the legs lying in the plane defined by the center lines ofthe passages 3.4 and ,35 as illustrated in Figs. 1--,4 and Fig. 6 or thelegs may lie in a plane perpendicular to this plane as shown in Fig. ora number of legs greater than two may be employed to form a spider, hereillustrated as a three-legged spider (Figs. ,8 and 9).

To use the dispenser the cork-carrying inner end is first inserted inthe mouth of a liquor bottle. In the event that the glass to be filledis of the small thick walled type illustrated in Fig. l which isintended to be filled to the top, the tubes at and 52 are pushed intothe passages to be flush with the outer face 36 of the body. The bottleis then inverted over the glass, the legs 52 resting on the rim thereof,and the liquid flows to fill the glass When the liquid level rises tocut off the admission of air into the passage 34, the how ceases and thebottle may be moved to fill another glass.

In the event that only a partial filling is de sired, such as in thetype of glass illustrated in Fig. 4 having an etched line thereonsubstantially below the rim thereof to indicate the desired measure, theflanges 54 of the tubes 5i) and 52 are grasped and the tubes withdrawnsuch that the vertical distance from the flanged tube ends to the legsis equivalent to the vertical distance from the etched mark to the glassrim. After thus setting the tubes, the bottle again is inverted and theliquid fiows into the glass and then is cut off as previously described.

The extension tube .52 on the air passage 34 is, or" course, required tohalt the intake of air therethrough upon the liquid rising to thedesired level in the glass. The tube 58 in the liquid passage 32 isnecessary to prevent a secondary air intake through passage 32 after thecutting off of passage 34 whereby air will bubble up through the columnof liquid to permit further liquid flow into the glass.

It will be noted that in thetwo leg ed forms (Figs. 1 -7), the legs arecentered on the air passage 34. Since the closure of this passage servesto limit the flow of liquid, it is evident that its correct placement isfundamental to an accurate measure. Thus if the legs were centeredelsewhere, a slight tilting of the bottle could result in a substantialinaccuracy in the quantity of liquid delivered. The vertical legstructure of F gs. 1-4 and Figs, 6 and 7, wherein the legs are centeredon both the liquid and air passages, provides for the a curate placementof each- S o d the bottle e tilt d sligh y t ward the side inPouring,-there will still be a simultaneous closure of the passages withthe advantages above referred to. In the stru ture employing more thantw 4 legs (Figs. 8 and 9), the centering of the legs with reference tothe passages is not critical since the dispenser cannot occupy anincorrect position when all the legs are in contact with the rim of theglass.

Attention also is directed to the varying inside diameters of the airintake passage 34. A large diameter passage throughout would permit theliquid to flow at such a rate that after air is shut ofi the momentum ofthe liquid column will cause a substantial overpouring. To avoid thiseifect the air passage must be limited to a near capillary size. If thissize should be employed throughout the length of the passage however,when the liquid rises in the glass to close the end of passage 34, asmall amount of the liquid is drawn into the passage 34 by a combinationof the momentum of the liquid column and capillary attraction and isretained therein by thelatter force. This liquid remains in its positionfollowing removal of the dispenser from the glass to block the airpassage 34. I have found that inversion of the bottle to its uprightposition at least, and, sometimes, additional shaking or pounding isnecessary to dislodge this liquid to reopen the air passage. Byproviding a relatively large diameter section of the air intake passageat the point where it meets the liquid in the glass, any entering liquidduring the pouring will fall out upon removal of the dispenser from theglass.

I also have found as an empirical observation of the Workings of thisair intake structure that an appreciable delay occurs between theremoval of the dispenser from the glass and the restarting of liquidflow, though the bottle be retained in its pouring position, whichpermits a bartender to move the bottle from one glass to another withoutdanger of liquid loss.

' Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A liquid dispensing device adapted to be detachably fitted into themouth of a liquor bottle for dispensing liquid therefrom to fill similarcontainers with a uniform quantity of liquid comprising a body having apassage therethrough for the fiow of liquid from the bottle into acontainer and a second passage for admitting air into the bottle,separately adjustable tubular members telescopically fitted in the outerends of said passages whereby said passages may be selectivelylengthened to any desired extent up to the length of said members, thetubular member in said air passage having a suificiently large diameterto prohibit passage-blocking capillary retention of the liquid thereinand said air passage having a portion of near capillary diameterconnecting said tubular member with the interior of the bottle and meanson said body to establish the outer ends of said passages at a fixeddistance from the bottom of the contai er.

2. A liquid dispensing device adapted to be detachably fitted into themouth of a liquor bottle for dispensing liquid therefrom to fill similarcontainers with a uniform quantity of liquid comprising a body having apassage therethrough for the flow of liquid from the bottle into acontainer and a second passage for admittin i into th bottle to replacethe outpouring liquid, said air passage being substantially lon er thansaid liquid passage, transversely extending legs formed on said body andadapted to rest on the rim of the container, support ng webs on saidlegs extending between said legs and said body, said legs and saidsupporting webs being integral with said body, the

ends of said passages in said body distant from the bottle terminatingin a plane lying parallel to the liquid surface in the container whensaid body is positioned on the container by said legs, and separatelyadjustable tubular members telescopically iitted in the outer ends ofsaid passages whereby said passages may be selectively lengthened to anydesired extent up to the length of said members, the tubular member insaid air passage having a sufiieiently large diameter to prohibitpassage-blocking capillary retention of liquid therein when the liquidrises in the container to close said air passage, and said air passagehaving a portion of near capillary diameter connecting said tubularmember with the interior of the bottle to prevent outpouring of liquidthrough said air passage when the bottle is tilted from upright topouring position.

3. A liquid dispenser adapted to be detachably fitted to the mouth of abottle to dispense liquid therefrom to fill a receptacle to any desiredlevel, comprising a body having a passage therethrough for the flow ofliquid from the bottle into the receptacle, a second passage foradmitting air into the bottle, a tubular member mounted in said airpassage having a portion of near capillary diameter connecting saidtubular member with the interior of the bottle, and having a portionextending beyond the mouth of said bottle, said latter portion having adiameter sufiiciently large to prohibit passage-blocking capillaryretention of the liquid therein, a tubular member extending beyond themouth of said bottle and having its other end in communication with theliquid passage in said body, means on said body to rest on the rim ofsaid receptacle to maintain the outer ends of said tubular members in aplane parallel to the plane of the liquid in said receptacle when saidmeans are positioned on the rim of said receptacle, whereby flow throughsaid liquid passage is interrupted by the rising liquid level in thereceptacle closing said air passage.

DWIGHT HESTER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 66,494 Halcomb July 9, 1867 217,127 Luckhardt July 1, 1879500,260 Carter June 27, 1893 654,580 Venable July'24, 1900 773,457Barton Oct. 25, 1904 1,550,738 Payne Aug. 25, 1925 1,564,430 MaddrellDec. 8, 1925 1,595,231 Dryer Aug. 10, 1926 1,984,803 Marlowe Dec. 18,1934 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 333,343 France Sept. 18, 1903739,929 France Nov. 3, 1932

